Molding clip



June 22, 1954 o. J. PouPn-cH MOLD'ING CLIP Filed May 3, 1952 INVENT`0R.@gg/e5@ des ,a @ww/g Patented June 22, 1954 MOLDING CLIP Ougljesa JulesPoupitch, Chicago, to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago,

tion of Illinois Ill., assigner Ill., a corpora- Application May 3,1952, Serial No. 285,891`

4 Claims.

\ This invention relates to an improved clip for securing molding to apanel, and more particularly to an improved fastening clip for s-ecuringchannel-shaped molding to a panel.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive clip which may be easily installed on a panel, such as apanel of an automobile, which clip is adapted to retain the lstandardchannel type molding, such` as that usually fastened to an automobile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple one-piececlip for retaining a channel type molding to a panel, which clip isprovided with integral fastening means adapted to be inserted through anopening in the panel and then spread outwardly to firmly grip the panel,thus securely fastening the clip and a molding held thereby to thepanel.

Another object of this invention is to construct a molding clip of theabove type in such a manner that the material of the clip is cold Workedduring fabrication and assembly with the work piece, whereby thematerial is strengthened, thus enabling lighter gauge material to beused.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simpleone-piece molding retaining clip which can be made preferably from arectangular metal blank substantially without scrap, thereby reducingcosts to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in thefollowing description and the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing devices involving the presentinvention assembled with a panel and a molding being retained by suchdevices;

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the longitudinal axis of my improvedclip which is being assembled with a panel;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken along line 4 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the under side of a clip involvingthe present invention; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar to Figs. 2 and 4, but showing a modified formof my improved clip.

The embodiment of my improved clip shown in Figs. l through 5` is formedfrom a rectangular blank I0, preferably of sheet metal of the desiredgauge. Theupper edge of the blank I0 is bent outwardly to form a moldingretaining ange I2. The lower edge of the blank I0 is bent outwardly toform a flange I4 similar to flange I2. The end portion of flange I4 isthen bent rearelement 53 of the blank I0.

wardly to form flange I6. Because of this structure, the inwardly turnedflange I8 of the channel-shaped molding 20 may be rst positioned underthe flange I2 of the blank IE), and then the flange 22 of the molding 20may be forced over the outer surface of the flange I6 of the blank IBwhich forms a guideway to guide the inwardly turned flange 22 over theend of flange I4 of the blank II] and into the assembled position shownin Fig. 4. It is readily seen, therefore, that the molding 2G may bequickly and easily assembled merely by positioning the flange i8 underthe flange I2 and then pressing down on the molding 20, which pressingaction will cause the flange 22, which is being guided by the flange I6to spring outwardly over the end of ilange I4 and into position. Thecorners of the blank I6 may be notched as at 24, Fig. 1, or they may beleft solid as shown in Fig. 5.

The blank II) may be curved to conform to the shape of the panel 26 towhich it is to be secured and which, for example, may be a body panel ofan automobile. However, my improved device is not limited to use onautomobile panels, but it may be used on any suitable panel curved orflat. Hence, the blank I0 may be flat, when the work surface is flat. Ifdesired, beads 28 and 3d may be formed adjacent the edges of the blankIB to provide added strength and rigidity. Preferably, the blank Ii) ismade large enough to completely cover the flange receiving opening 32,whereby foreign material is prevented from dropping through the opening.

The structure for fastening my device to the panel 26 is preferablyformed from the mid-portion of the blank I. This structure includespairs of flanges 34, 36, 38, and 40. These flanges are stamped orotherwise formed from the blank IIJ. As shown in the drawings, thelongitudinal axes of these flanges extend perpendicular to the moldingretaining flanges I2 and I4 of the blank Ill, but it is within thepurview of my invention to form the flanges 34, 36, 38, and 4U extendingat any desired angle to the flanges I2 and I4.

The flanges of each pair are separated from each other by notches 42 and44 for a purpose more fully described below. The flanges 34 and 38 areintegrally joined along lines 46 and 48 to the The flanges 36 and 40 aresimilarly `joined to the element 52 of the blank ID.

rEhe elements 53 and 52 constitute astrap and are integrally joined toeach other at their inner ends along bend line 54. After the flanges 34,3E, 38, and 40 have been formed, the strap portions 55 and 52 are bentand drawn outwardly as shown in Fig. 2, so that the junction line 54 israised substantially above the upper surface of the blank l0. As shownin the drawings, the elements are preferably bent so that they extend atan angle of about 30 to the blank IG. This angle can be varied eitherway within reasonable limits. The notches' 42 and 44 serve to eliminatethe material which would otherwise be compressed and wrinkled when theelements 5l! and 52 are bent to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2.

Flanges 34, 36, 38 and 40 are provided with panel engaging ends or edgeso'r surfaces 55, 58, fill, and S2. These edges or surfaces preferablyextend from points adjacent the junction of the lower or outer ends ofthe strap portions and 52 with the blank I0. As shown in Figs. 2 through5, the edges 56 and 58 are inclined relative to the member 55 outwardlytoward the fiangeV l2, and the edges 60 and 52 are inclined relative tothe member 52 outwardly towards the flange i4. The angle of inclinationbetween the edges 56 and 58 to the inclined strap portion 5e and theangle betweenV the edges 60 and 52 and the in clined strap portion 52are substantially the same as the angle between the inclined strapportions 55 and 52 and the blank lll, or about 30. Because of thisstructural relationship, the panel engaging edges or surfaces 55 to 62extend sube stantially perpendicularly to the plane of the blank l0, asshown in Fig. 2. This allows the flanges 34, 36, 38, and 40 to bereadily inserted through the nange receiving opening 32 in the panel 25.The flange receiving opening 32 is preferably of rectangular shape andis of sulficient size to allow flanges 34 through 4@ to passtherethrough when they are in Vtheir inclined position shown in Fig. 2,but small enough to retain the flanges 34 through 4l) when they are inthe collapsed position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If desired, however, theopening 32 may be circular or any other desired shape.

When assembling my improved device with the panel 25, the flanges 34,36, 38, and s@ are inserted through the flange receiving opening 32, asshown in Fig. 2. Then the inclined strap portions 50 and 52 are pounded,or otherwise deformed, downwardly until the strap portions 5G and 52 liein the plane of the blank lil, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This causesthe panel engaging edges or surfaces 56, 58, 60, and 52 to spreadoutwardly and engage the underside of opposite edges of the opening 32,thus securely fastening and locking the clip to the panel 26.

It has been found that during the application of the fastening device torelatively thin panels, such as automobile fenders, the above describedpounding operation sometimes causes the panel to be deflected since thepanel engaging edges or surfaces 56, 58, 60, and 62 engage the edges ofthe aperture and thus resist the complete flattening of the inclinedstrap portions 5S and 52. Therefore, means has been provided to enablethe panel engaging edges to yieldably engage the panel to enable theinclined elements to be flattened relatively easily while stillproviding a secure assembly. In the embodiment shown in Figs. l through5, this means takes the form of elongated cutout portions 5I, 59, 6l,and 53 provided in the flanges adjacent to and preferably substantiallyparallel to the panel engaging edges 56, 58, 65, and E2, as shown bestin Fig. 2. Furthermore, the junction line between the flanges and theinclined elements 5U and 52 are slit as 4 at 65, 61, 69, and 'H so thatthe material of the flange between the cutouts and the panel engagingedges provides collapsible resilient ngers. Thus, when the inclinedelements are flattened, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these fingers yieldto allow the panel engaging edges 56, 58, 5G, and 62 to yieldably engagethe panel, whereby the inclined elements may be relatively easilyflattened.

The cold working of the metal adjacent the bend line 54, which resultsfrom the above described bending and drawing operations, strengthens thestrap portions 5 and 52. This cold working enables a relatively lightergauge material to be used to provide a secure fastening device.

Figs. 6 and 7, in which parts similar to the embodiment of Figs. l to 5are designated by the same numerals, show a modification of my improveddevice which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. l through Y5,except that a hooking finger 64 extends outwardly from the lower end ofthe panel engaging end or edge 6! of the flange 33. A similar finger,not shown, also extends from the edge 56 of the flange 34.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cutout portions of the panelengaging flanges have been eliminated, and other means has been providedfor increasing the resiliency of the fastener to enable it to berelatively easily assembled. In this form of the invention, the materialof the inclined strap portions 5G and 52 at the junction line 54 isdrawn outwardly to form a looped hinge section I3 which provides arelatively flexible connection between the inclined elements.

This modification of my improved clip is as sembled with the panel 2B inthe same manner as was described above, except that it isV necessaryfirst to insert the hooking fingers under one edge of the opening 32, asshown in Fig. 6. The hooking fingers serve to temporarily retain thedevice in assembled relationship with the panel 26, until the inclinedstrap portions 50 and 52 can be deformed downwardly as was describedabove.

From the above description, it is seen that the present molding clip isvery simple to make and to install. Because the blank is cold workedalong the junction of the inclined strap portions, a very strong andrigid fastening means is provided which enables lighter weight materialto be used. Furthermore, itis seen that the present clip may be madesubstantially without waste of material, thereby further reducing itscost.

It is understood that various changes may be made in the structure of myimproved device as shown and described herein without departing from thespirit Vand scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

l. A one piece device for securing a molding to a panel and comprising arelatively broad sheet material plate-like body member having end andside margins, and integral fastening means located generally centrallywithin the margins of said body member and adapted to be insertedthrough an aperture in the panel, said fastening means including a strapseparated from the body member along the longitudinal edges thereof andprojected outwardly from the body member to form a pair of inclinedstrap portions, said strap portions having an integrally joined centralportion forming a hinge thereacross and having the opposite end portionsintegrally joined to the body member, and an integral flange extendinginwardly from opposite longitudinal separated edge portions of each ofsaid strap portions, each of said flanges having panel engaging edges atthe ends thereof remote from said hinge and extending inwardly from thebody member for engaging opposite sides of the panel aperture incidentto inward deformation of the inclined strap portions from their initialoutwardly projected position, and each said flange being substantiallylongitudinally coextensive with its associated strap portion andintegral therewith from adjacent said hinge throughout at least a majorportion of its length for resisting bending of the inclined strapportions between the hinge and the opposite end portions and to therebylocalize bending thereof at the hinge whereby the sheet material at thehinge is cold worked by stretching and bending to the outwardlyprojected position and by compressing and bending to the inwardlydeformed position to thus stiien the integral connection at the hingeand restrain loosening of the device when assembled with the panel.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hooking linger extends fromone of said anges to project through the panel opening and engage 6 theunder surface of the panel before the strap portions are deformedinwardly whereby the device may be temporarily retained in assembly withthe panel until the strap portions are deformed inwardly to securelyfasten the device to the panel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises aiiexible loop at the central portion of the strap.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said flanges issevered from the body member adjacent the panel engaging edge andinwardly recessed to provide a resilient nger constituting the panelengaging edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date o 2,208,541 Churchill July 16, 1940 2,588,251 Kost Mal'. 4,1952 2,611,166 Wiley Sept. 23, 1952

